Axle-setting apparatus for autos



J. s. BUSHEY AXLE SETTING APPARATUS FOR AUTOS Filed Feb. 926

Patented Feb. 14, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH S. BUSHEY, 015 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

AXLE-SETTING APPARATUS FOR AUTOS.

Application filed February 17, 1926. Serial No. 88,838.

This invention relates to apparatus for setting or adjusting the frontaxles of automobiles to regulate the amount of cant or camber of thewheels carried by the axle.

6 In this art the term camber has come to mean the inclination of theplane of the front wheels from the vertical plane extendp ing in a frontand rear direction.

The general object of the invention is to provide simple apparatus forthis purpose which can be quickly rigged up in position for operationand which can be used readily for increasing the camber or for reducingthe camber.

A further. object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this kindwhich enables the axle to be set while in place on the car and withoutdisturbing any of the parts carried by the axle.

The invention contemplates the use of.

jacks or similar devices for enabling the axle to be subjected to abending moment in the desired direction, and one of the objects of theinvention is to construct the apparatus in such a way as to facilitatethe cooperation of these jacks with a pair of slings which suspend theapparatus from the axle, the slings being constructed in such a way thatthey can be shifted to cooperate with the jacks in thediiferent uses ofthe apparatus without necessitating making any connections ordisconnections of the slings.

Further objects of the invention will pear hereinafter. 85 The inventionconsists .of the novel parts and combination of parts to be describedhereinafter, all of which contribute to produce an eflicientaxle-setting apparatus for an automobile.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in the followingspecification, while the scope of the invention is pointed out in theappended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation illustrating the front axle of an automobileand illustrating the apparatus applied to the same with the p parts inthe relation which they have when reducing the camber in the wheels;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the apparatus organizedfor increasing the camber in the wheels;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken through the front axle and throughthe body or bar of the apparatus at one of the jacks which 3 cooperatewith the slings; and

Fig. his a plan showing one end of tho body-or bar of the device brokenaway.

In practicing the invention I provide a rigid strong-back or bar 1 whichpreferably consists of a stout solid bar of rectangular cross-section. Iprovide means for susending this bar from the front axle 2 of theautomobile. For this purpose I prefer to provide two slings 3 which areconstructed in such a way that they engage under the bar 1 to supportit, but are preferably not secured to the bar, and hence they can beshifted longitudinally of the bar without disconnecting any fastenings.

Each of the slings 3 is preferably in the form of an inverted U-bolt orU-bar hung over the axle; the lower ends of the arms are formed,respectively, with eyes 4- which bolt 5. These bolts or receive across-pin or pins 5 extend under the bar 1 and support the bar.

In Fig. 1 I illustrate the apparatus arranged for setting the axle in adirection to reduce the camber or inclination of the wheels, but theapparatus is equally capable of use for increasing the camber, aslllllS- trated in Fig. 2.

In order to enable the apparatus to be equally useful for both of thesepurposes, I provide the upper side of the bar 1 with a plurality ofjack-seats, each jack-seat being preferably in the form of a deep socket6. In forming these sockets they are counterbored so as to form adepressed annular shoulder 7 toward the lower face of the bar.

I provide a plurality of jacks 8, each jack consisting of an internallythreaded sleeve 9 which is received in the socket or seat 6 (see Fig.3), so that the lower end rests upon the annular shoulder 7 Each sleeveis provided with a key 10 which is received-in a key-slot 11 to preventthe sleeve from rotating when the screw 12 is rotated. Each screw has ahead 13 with a swiveled saddle plate 14: at its upper end which seatsagainst the under side of the axle. The head 13 is of a lever asindiwhich may receive the end cated in dotted lines at 16 in Fig). 3 Aver of considerable length can e mse and gives sufficient leverage toscrew up or unscrew the jacks. Two of these jack-seats 6 are locatedrespectively at the ends of the bar, and I provide two or moreintermediate 'ack-seats, the arrangement being such as to enable thejack-screws to be located toward rovided-with a plurality of sockets 1 5I the ends of the bar when the slings are located near the middle of theaxle, and vice versa.

I prefer also to provide one of the jackseats at the middle point of thebar. This enables a middle jack to be used in arranging the apparatusfor operation. This midle jack is not used to exert any great force uponthe axle but is simply tightened up so as to bring the bar 1 into properalinement with the vertical plane or web of the axle. By providing thismiddle jack and tightening it first there is no danger that when theouter jacks are tightened up there will be any tendency to twist theaxle or bend it in any plane except the plane of its web.

In using the ap aratus to increase the camber in the whee s 17, I simplyshift the slings 3 out to a point near the ends of the bar 1, and I movethe jacks 8 from the position in which they are illustrated in Fig. 1into a pair of symmetrically located jackseats (see Fig. 2). With theapparatus arranged in this Way, by tightenlng up the jacks it will beevident that a bending moment can be exerted on the axle which will bendit or set it in a direction to increase the camber of the wheels.

When using the apparatus the front end of the automobile may besupported on two blocks set under the wheels (see Fig. 1), and one ofthe blocks may be on rollers to facilitate the altering of the relativepositions of the wheels when the axle is set to its new form. 7

What I claim is:

1. In an apparatus for setting the front axle of an automobile, thecombination of a rigid bar, a pair of slings engaging under the bar, andmovable along the bar, for suspending the same from the axle, and jackssupported on the bar on opposite sides of the slings for exerting upwardpressure against the under side of the axle at different points withrespect to the slings.

2. In an apparatus for setting the front axle of an automobile to adjustthe camber of the wheels, the combination of a rigid bar, a pair ofslings engaging under the bar and movable along the bar for suspendingthe in a direction to take the camber out of the wheels, and capable ofcooperating with the slings when the slings are located at the ends ofthe bar to bend the axle in a direction to increase the camber of thewheels.

3. In an apparatus for setting the front axle of an automobile to adjustthe camber of the Wheels, the combination of a rigid bar, a pair ofslings consisting res ectively of U-bolts hung over the axle withcrossins at their lower ends passing under the ar, said slings beingmovable along the bar and operating to suspend thesame from the axle,sai bar having a plurality of sockets in its upper face operating asjack-seats, a plurality of jacks having internally threaded sleevesreceived in said sockets, said jacks having hezlids to seat against theunder side of the ax e.

4. In an apparatus for setting the front axle of an automobile, thecomblnation of a rigid bar, means for supporting the bar from the axletoward one side of the automobile, means for supporting the bar from theaxle at a oint toward the other side of the automobi e, and a jackcorresponding to each of said means and capable of being mounted oneither side of the same to exert pressure against the under side of theaxle.

5. In an apparatus for setting the front axle of an automobile, thecombination of a rigid bar, a pair of slings engaging under the bar andmovable along the bar for suspending the same from the axle, and a airof jacks, each corresponding to each sing supported on'the bar andcooperating with the same for exerting upward pressure against the underside of the axle, the slings being capable of being positioned outsidethe jacks, or between the acks, as desired.

Signed at Los Angeles, Calif., this 9th day of February, 1926.

JOSEPH s. BUSHEY.

